Studio Album · No. 12
L-O-V-E Songwriting Credits by Nat King Cole
Produced by Lee Gillette
Holds writing credit on 0 of 11 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 0 / 11 documented
Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Nat King Cole carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Cole is the singer here, not the writer, and none of these songs carry his pen. The title track 'L-O-V-E' was written by German bandleader Bert Kaempfert, who supplied the melody, and American lyricist and producer Milt Gabler, who wrote the English words; Cole's 1964 recording became its definitive version. Across the album the credits belong to outside songwriters, from Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes on 'The Girl from Ipanema' to Riz Ortolani and Nino Oliviero on 'More,' while Cole supplies only the voice. Arranger and conductor Ralph Carmichael frames every track, and producer Lee Gillette oversaw the sessions. The composer column therefore reflects the actual writers under their legal names, never Cole himself.
L-O-V-E is the final studio album by Nat King Cole, released by Capitol Records in early 1965 shortly before his death from lung cancer in February of that year. Cole sings as an interpreter throughout, backed by lush arrangements written and conducted by Ralph Carmichael and produced by Lee Gillette. The album leads with its title track, the standard 'L-O-V-E' written by Bert Kaempfert and Milt Gabler, alongside readings of 'The Girl from Ipanema,' 'More (Theme from Mondo Cane),' and other popular songs of the era. Its closing three tracks, 'Your Love,' 'How I'd Love to Love You,' and 'Swiss Retreat,' were cut across December 1-3, 1964, after his cancer diagnosis, making them among the last recordings he ever made. The record is a warm, understated farewell from one of the defining voices of American popular song.
Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
L-O-V-E
#81
|
Milt Gabler | Berthold Heinrich Kämpfert | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 2 |
The Girl from Ipanema
|
Norman GimbelVinicius de Moraes | Antonio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 3 |
Three Little Words
|
Bert Kalmar | Harry Rubenstein | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 4 |
There's Love
|
George David Weiss | Joseph Sherman | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 5 |
My Kind of Girl
|
Leslie Bricusse | Leslie Bricusse | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 6 |
Thanks to You
|
Bob Marcus | Bob Marcus | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 7 |
Your Love
|
Wayne Dunstan | Ralph Richard Carmichael | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 8 |
More (Theme from Mondo Cane)
|
Norman NewellMarcello Ciorciolini | Riziero OrtolaniNino Oliviero | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 9 |
Coquette
|
Gus Kahn | John Waldo GreenCarmen Lombardo | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 10 |
How I'd Love to Love You
|
Joe Bailey | Joe Bailey | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 11 |
Swiss Retreat
|
Jerry Tobias | Milton Rogers | Lee Gillette | Nat King Cole (Vocals)Ralph Carmichael (Arranger, Conductor) |